9 November 2005 -- Delegates from more than 100 countries have agreed a blueprint for restricting the spread of bird flu and reacting swiftly to a possible human pandemic.

Delegates at a three-day conference in Geneva agreed today to a plan calling for greater veterinary surveillance to detect outbreaks and report them swiftly, preventative vaccination of poultry, culling of infected flocks, and compensation of farmers.

WHO Director-General Lee Jong-wook said up to $1 billion will be needed over the next three years to help poor countries carry out the measures.